MAIN Big Lime, one of the biggest and most popular events in Guyana and on the annual calendar of the Ministry of Tourism Industry and Commerce continues to attract overwhelming support from Guyanese and visitors.

President Bharrat Jagdeo mingling with the crowd at Main Big Lime 2009.

This year’s event started at 10:00h but heated up at around 17:00h (5:00pm) after scores of patrons young and old, from near and far began pouring in from all directions to the Main Street, Georgetown venue.

The atmosphere was one of a lime as the name suggests, particularly with the reverberating sounds of Guyanese and Caribbean music played by some of the top sound systems in Guyana.

Later in the afternoon President Bharrat Jagdeo as is customary, accompanied by Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad and Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, mingled with the crowd as it grew larger making it virtually impossible to walk freely along Main Street.

The President and team proceeded south along Main Street to the Main Big Lime entrance where the oversized Santa Claus image stands, and then returned. On the way, he greeted many who were eager to meet the charismatic Guyanese Head of State, and take photographs.

President Bharrat Jagdeo, Tourism Minister Manniram Prashad and Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh blending with the huge crowd at Main Big Lime on Saturday night.

Minister Prashad had promised that the Boxing Day event will be bigger and better this year noting that a deliberate attempt was made to start the event early to cater for the children. Last year’s event attracted over 28,000 people and it was the goal of the Ministry to attract 30,000 this year.

Preparations for this year’s event catered for some of the concerns about noise nuisance, traffic congestion and a high presence of police officers to maintain law and order.

Main Big Lime has been earmarked as one of many seasonal events that will be promoted to help boost tourism and market Guyana effectively.

Following the success of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) in August 2008, President Jagdeo in April, met several local entertainers and promoters to encourage the idea of selecting at least four periods of each year when activities can be held to keep people occupied while at the same time create endless opportunities for local entertainers and the tourism industry.